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Pentecost 14
5 September 2004
Luke 14:25-33 The cost of commitment
Background
“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple”.(vv26-7) Strong words (see Matt.10:37-38 for a softer rendering). In Luke these words need to be read as oriental hyperbole – if taken literally they contradict the call to love, especially one’s family and even one’s enemies, which is found throughout the whole Bible. “To hate” is a Semitic term meaning to turn away from, to detach oneself from which is rather different from our understanding of “hate”. And to hate oneself is not a call for self loathing. The point Jesus is making is that the claim of Christ takes precedence and redefines another other loyalties which we may have.
“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (v27) The cross was carried to the scene of death by the condemned person. Jesus sees that the acceptance of his message with its promise can also bring seeming destruction. Only those who in faith accept the threat of destruction will find life.
The following two parables emphasise the same point – one rural (watchtower in a vineyard) the other kings facing issues of war and peace – but rich or poor, peasant or royalty, when faced with major expense the question must be asked “does this cost more than I am willing to pay?” Similarly in the call to discipleship there is the uncompromising demand for wholeheartedness – including the leaving behind of possessions (v33). The two parables have similar but at the same time slightly opposite meanings. The builders of the tower can choose to build or not therefore must count the cost – i.e. whether they can afford to build (follow Jesus). The king being attacked must decide whether he needs to fight to negotiate peace – i.e. decide whether you can afford to refuse my demands.
Jesus’ audience here is public – an enthusiastic crowd. They have come to Jesus, he does not call them out to a life of discipleship – his response is to enthusiasts who seem unaware that he is going to Jerusalem and the cross. Is Luke cautioning his readers about unreflective enthusiasm? Only Jesus has seriously faced the issue of his death – the 12 haven’t yet grasped it. The nature of the journey to Jerusalem seems to be that of a parade. The crowd seem oblivious to any conflict, any price to pay, any cross to bear. Jesus seems to be saying “think about what you are doing and decide if you are really committed”. The enthusiasm is fine, but will they carry through to the end?
In preaching
There is a challenge here to affirm the hard call of discipleship, perhaps acknowledge those known to us who have made huge sacrifices for the sake of the gospel (perhaps using material from the Global Missions Office), without making it all sound too hard for the average person.
There is a clear call to all, no matter what the circumstances, to re-order priorities and re-examine our sense of commitment to following Christ.
In acknowledging the costliness of discipleship, putting Christ first, there is no place for a blasé attitude. What does it mean for us to give our first loyalty to God in Christ?
Philemon 1-21
This passage underlines one of the central values of the Middle East – the importance of family.
In relation to the Gospel passage it under lines the enormity of what Jesus is asking.
Jeremiah 18:1-11
If a potter can re-shape clay, then God can re-shape human clay. Humans have some control over their own destiny, so can choose to submit to the potter’s hands – but this requires the same level of commitment to change as we see in the Gospel reading.
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Despite all the re-shaping we have been known and loved since before we were born.
Prayer suggestions
I give myself to you Lord,
I give myself to you.
All that I am
All that I have been
All that I hope to be,
I give myself to you Lord.
I give myself to you,
In joy and in sorrow
In sickness and in health
In success and in failure,
I give myself to you Lord,
I give myself to you.
In darkness and in light
In trouble and in joy
In time and for eternity,
I give myself to you, Lord,
I give myself to you.----------------
We commend unto thee, O Lord,
our souls and bodies,
our minds and our thoughts,
our prayers and our hopes,
our health and our work,
our life and our death,
our parents and brothers and sisters,
our benefactors and our friends,
our neighbours and our countrymen,
and all Christian folk,
this day and always.
Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626) Both prayers in ‘The Open Gate’ David Adam SPCK 1994